Net Operating Income (NOI) represents the profitability of an income-producing property before considering debt service, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It is calculated by subtracting all operating expenses from the gross operating income. Operating expenses typically include costs like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, property management fees, and utilities. For example, if a property generates $100,000 in gross income and has $30,000 in operating expenses, the resulting NOI is $70,000. This figure serves as a fundamental metric in evaluating the property’s ability to generate cash flow.
The accurate determination of NOI is crucial when evaluating loan applications secured by income-producing properties, particularly Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans. Lenders use the NOI to assess whether the property can generate sufficient income to cover the annual debt service obligations. A higher NOI relative to debt service indicates a lower risk for the lender and enhances the likelihood of loan approval. Historically, this ratio has been a cornerstone of commercial real estate lending, providing a consistent and reliable method to measure a property’s financial health.